Phi Kappa Tau

Standards Board Manual

Table of ContentsThe Basics…………………………………………………………………………………………………..

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Disciplinary Procedures…………………………………………………………………………...3

Recognition Procedures……………………………………………………………………………6

Disciplinary Sanction Examples………………………………………………………………7

Tips for Best Practices……………………………………………………………………………… 9

On Campus Resources…..………………………………………………………………………….11

A Culture of Accountability………………………………………………………………………12

Appendices

Appendix A: Standards Board Referral Form………………………………………..14

Appendix B: Standards Board Notification Letter………………………………….15

Appendix C: Standards Board Documentation Form……………………………..16

Appendix D: Standards Board Notice of Decision and Sanctions Letter…..17

Appendix E: Notice of Recognition Letter…………………………………………….18

Resources

Expulsion Process……………………………………………………………………………...20

The Inverted Values Pyramid………………………………………………………………22

Mental Health…………………………………………………………………………………… 23

The BasicsWhat is a Standards Board?

Standards Board is the primary tool to promote the Oath of Phi Kappa Tau. This five member board should not only hold members accountable to our Oath in a formal and unbiased setting, but should also recognize the achievements and outstanding actions of chapter members who positively represent the Fraternity.

Who should be on the Standards Board?

The vice president should serve as the Standards Board chairman. Ideally, the board should be made up of one member from each academic class: one first year, one sophomore, one junior and one senior.

The board members should be elected during the formal election process and should be members that the chapter respects and are willing to serve as role models for their brothers. At the very least, board members must be current with dues, meet the minimum chapter GPA to hold an executive office and be in good standing with the chapter.

Why have a Standards Board?

Standards Board is the method by which members of the chapter hold each other accountable to the commitments we have made when we became Phi Kappa Tau members. There are a number of benefits to having a Standards Board:

1. It allows the chapter to self-govern its actions and behavior. Addressing issues internally may prevent external involvement in policy violation or behavior that is not congruent with our values.

2. It communicates to the chapter members, as well as outside constituents, that we will make every effort to be who we say we are by holding members accountable for their actions.

3. It is a formal way of recognizing brothers who exemplify and put into action what it means to be a Phi Kappa Tau.

4. It reinforces chapter values and mission.

5. It provides a formal way for addressing common issues such as academic or financial delinquency, attendance, participation, etc. and allows the Executive Board to focus on bigger picture issues.

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6. It allows the chapter to deal with little issues before they become big problems.

Where should Standards Board Meet?

Standards Board should meet in a private setting, away from brothers and/or outside constituents.

What are some examples of cases that should be heard by the Standards Board?

Recognition and Reinforcement Outstanding performance on grades, tests, papers, etc. Actions representative of true fellowship and support of brotherhood Representing the Fraternity positively in campus organizations Greek or university recognition of a brother Outstanding performance in a committee/executive board position Outstanding attendance or participation at events Bring honor and credit to our Cardinal Principles Actions representative of a Man of Character

Disciplinary

Poor academic performance Failure to meet financial obligations Poor attendance at events and/or meetings Violent behavior on or off chapter property Destruction of property (chapter or otherwise) Harassment of members, associates or any other individuals Possession or use of illegal drugs Failure to meet the obligations of an officer Violation of the National Constitution or chapter bylaws Violation of our risk management policies Anything that violates the Oath of Phi Kappa Tau or conflicts with

our Cardinal Principles or mission

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Disciplinary ProceduresBefore the Hearing

1. If any chapter member (active or associate member) wishes to have an active or associate member brought before standards, a formal letter of complaint and/or a Standards Board Referral Form (Appendix A) must be submitted to the Standards Board chairman (SBC).

2. A formal letter or referral form must be based on actual experience and not hearsay.

3. A formal letter or referral is not needed in issues related to financial delinquency, academic deficiency or attendance. Supporting documentation must be submitted to the SBC in each case. The following is considered appropriate documentation:

Financial: breakdown of fees owed Academic: copy of university-issued grade report Attendance: dates and events missed.

4. Upon receipt of a formal letter, referral form or supporting documentation, the SBC must contact the individual who has been charged and inform him that he is required to appear before the Standards Board. The individual charged should be notified within 48 hours of receiving the letter/form/documentation and the meeting should be held within one week.

5. The SBC may inform the individual (by phone or by email) of the violations and that he is required to appear before the Board. However, the SBC must follow-up initial contact with official written correspondence to the individual (Appendix B).

6. A member of the BOG should be present for all Standards Board hearings (if available/applicable).

7. No one except the individual charged and the other members of the Standards Board should have knowledge that a hearing will occur. Confidentiality is of the utmost importance.

During the Hearing

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1. The SBC calls the hearing to order and presents the complaint against the individual by reading the letter of complaint, summarizing the referral form or presenting the documentation.

2. The SBC announces to the accused member and the members of the Standards Board which policies, rules, commitments etc. were violated.

3. The member charged will be given the opportunity to speak and present any witnesses.

4. After the member charged has made his response, members of the Standards Board will be given the opportunity to ask questions of the member charged.

5. At the conclusion of the questioning, the member charged must then leave the room in order for the Standards Board to deliberate and reach a decision. If a decision cannot be reached within 30 minutes, the member charged may be excused and asked to return to the meeting within 24 hours to hear the decision.

6. Once a decision is made, the member charged should return to the room and the SBC should read the decision of the Standards Board, including sanctions.

7. Complete and accurate minutes of the meeting must be kept. You may use the Standards Board Documentation Form (Appendix C) for less involved cases (i.e. grades, finances, attendance). However, for more in-depth issues (risk management or social responsibility issues, conduct unbecoming of a brother etc.) minutes should be recorded in the same fashion that minutes for chapter meetings are kept. Detail in recording minutes is crucial.

8. All minutes and proceedings must be kept confidential within the members of Standards Board. This includes discussing details with other Executive Board members not on the Board.

Following the Hearing

1. A written notice of the decision and sanctions must be delivered to the member charged within one week of the date of the hearing (Appendix D). This letter should be copied to the chapter advisor, BOG chairman and the chapter president.

2. The notice must include an explanation of the appeals process and a time frame in which the appeal must take place.

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3. A copy of the following must be put in a confidential file:

a) Letter of complaint/referral form/documentationb) Letter requesting presence at a Standards Hearingc) Minutes of the hearing/documentation formd) Letter outlining sanction and appeals process

4. In the event that a member does not complete his sanctions in the agreed-upon time frame, the Standards procedure will begin again.

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Appeals Process

1. The member charged has 15 days after receipt of the decision letter to appeal to the Board of Governors.

2. The appeal must be written and submitted to the BOG chairman and copied to the SBC.

3. Upon receipt of the appeal, the BOG will hold a hearing with the charged member, following the Standards Board procedure listed previously.

4. The BOG will make a decision regarding the member’s appeal within 1 week and the member charged will be notified via writing. This letter should be copied to the SBC.

5. The member charged has 15 days after receipt of the notice of decision letter to appeal to the National Council. In all matters pertaining to finance or scholarship, the BOG shall be the final authority on its ruling.

6. All decisions made by the National Council will be final.

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Recognition ProceduresBefore the Hearing

If any chapter member (undergraduate or associate) wishes to have an undergraduate or associate member brought before the Board for the purpose of recognition, a Standards Board referral form must be submitted to the Standards Board chairman (SBC).

During the Hearing

1. The SBC calls the hearing to order and reads the Standards Board Referral Form to the members.

2. Members then discuss the means for recognizing and/or rewarding the individual referred to Standards Board.

Following the Hearing

1. A written notice of the recognition (Appendix E) must be delivered to the member within one week of the hearing. This letter should be copied to the chapter advisor and the chapter president.

2. A copy of the letter must be put in a confidential file with the Standards Board Referral Form attached.

3. The accomplishment should be announced to the chapter during a chapter meeting or event and recorded in the chapter’s alumni newsletter.

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Disciplinary Sanction ExamplesNote: Each level all or a combination of sanctions must be decided on by the Standards Board.

Stage 1: Warning

Possible Violations: First time violations for academic, financial, attendance.

1. Submit a written apology to all those affected2. Immediate payment for all damages, debt, fines etc.3. Referral to campus/community support structure (heath education office,

community counseling center, Office of Greek Affairs, academic help center)4. Sign a payment plan contract5. Active involvement in at least one chapter committee

Stage 2: Level 1 Probation (not longer than one month)

Possible Violations: Second time violations for academic, financial, attendance; first time violations for: behavior was harmful to the individual, behavior affected another member or associate, behavior affected the chapter negatively, affected the college/university negatively, affected the community negatively.

1. Submit a written apology to all those affected2. Immediate payment for all damages, debt, fines etc.3. Referral to campus/community support structure (heath education office,

community counseling center, Office of Greek Affairs, academic help center)4. Loss of social/intramural privileges for the term of probation5. Removal of office for the period of probation6. Regular progress meetings with big brother7. Must attend all meetings but will have no voice or vote8. Attend an education program that serves to educate member on violation9. Participate in a community service activity or activities10.Deliver badge to the Executive Board, to be held during the period of

probation11.Loss of rank in room choice etc.12.Development of written personal academic achievement plan 13.Violation of probation immediately moves individual to Level 2 probation.

Stage 3: Level Two Probation (not longer than one semester/quarter)

Possible Violations: Third time violations for academic, financial, attendance; second time violation: behavior was harmful to the individual, behavior affected another

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member or associate, behavior affected the chapter negatively, affected the college/university negatively, affected the community negatively.

1. Submit a written apology to all those affected2. Immediate payment for all damages, debt, fines etc.3. Required meeting with a campus/community support structure (heath

education office, community counseling center, Office of Greek Affairs, academic help center)

4. Loss of social/intramural privileges for the term of probation5. Permanent removal from office 6. Removal of privilege of running for office in upcoming election7. Regular progress meetings with Executive Board or BOG8. Must attend all meetings but will have no voice or vote9. Plan an education program that serves to educate the chapter on the

violation10.Organize a community service activity11.Weekly grade checks from professors12.Deliver badge to the Executive Board to be held during the period of

probation13.Make a verbal apology to the chapter14.Loss of rank in room choice etc.15.Loss of ability to be a big brother16.Loss of privilege of living in the house

Stage 4: Membership Suspension

Possible Violations: Fourth time violations for academic, financial, attendance; third time violation: behavior was harmful to the individual, behavior affected another member or associate, behavior affected the chapter negatively; second time violation; affected the college/university negatively, affected the community negatively

1. Loss of membership in the National and local chapter of the Fraternity. 2. See National Constitution and/or chapter bylaws for specifics.

Stage 5: Expulsion

See Expulsion Manual provided in Resources section of this document.

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Tips for Best Practices

It All Comes Back to Ritual

No matter what the problem is in a chapter or with a member, all problems always revert back to uninformed or ignored adherence to our Cardinal Principles and our Ritual. If every one of your members lived every day by the Oath of membership that each of them has taken, would you ever have a problem? The Oath and the Cardinal Principles are your greatest asset when dealing with issues in the chapter or with a member, and it is important that you include in every trial and decision an articulate link back to both of them. For a diagram, please refer to the inverted triangle in the Resources portion of this Manual.

Accountable Chapters = Successful Chapters

Holding your members accountable means making sure they take responsibility for their actions. Having your members hold each other accountable for their actions creates a culture that has members putting the Cardinal Principles and Oath above potential conflict or poor decision making. If the Standards Board is consistent in holding members accountable for their actions, it encourages more use of the Standards Board and allows members to police themselves instead of creating an “us versus them” mentality among your membership. When the Standards Board is neither consistent nor effective in its accountability, problem members can control the dialogue and actions of other members, creating divisions in the chapter and making more problems for the leadership.

This is a voluntary organization—your problem member don’t have to be there

When you run into problems with sanctions of members and complaints regarding Standards Board, it is always fair to remind members that this is a voluntary organization. No one is forcing anyone to be a member. But, as a member, one must follow the rules, regulations and Oath they swore to uphold as members. If a member doesn’t want to do these things, it would seem pertinent that they withdraw from the organization.

Don’t Be Afraid to Hurt Someone’s Feelings

The hardest thing to do as a member of the Standards Board is enforce sanctions. While creating sanctions are easy, if a member does not follow through on them he must be held accountable. It might be difficult, and the member being sanctioned may be a great friend, but accountability and consistency are the keys to a successful chapter.

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Just remember: the person up that is referred to Standards Board made his own choices.

Encourage Positive Referrals

While many times people think Standards Board is the stick, there should also be a carrot to balance out problem members with outstanding members. This is why it is important to recognize positive contributions or performances by an individual to the community or chapter. Standards Board can provide certificates of honor, prizes, verbal recognition, or anything else it deems fitting to recognize individuals for these feats. When your members are consistently referring other members to be honored, it creates a culture of respect and support, which is directly upholding our Cardinal Principles and Oath as members.

Create a Positive Image of the Standards Board

While the image may also be that of the stick, having a positive image should actually mean that members believe you are doing your job. If the Standards Board is toothless, inconsistent or ineffective, no one will refer acts unbecoming or poor members to the Board, because they know nothing will become of it. By recognizing positive acts and being consistent and accountable with negative ones, the Standards Board should be the go to place in holding members responsible for their actions.

Stay Consistent and Organized

Consistency and organization make an effective Standards Board possible. If members are getting different sanctions for the same act, it may create a sense of bias for members. Additionally, if the board does not oversee and enforce the sanctions on its members, it will eventually make itself ineffective and useless. Stay consistent on rulings and make sure your board is following the procedures and enforcements in a timely manner.

Mental Health is Important to Note

Some brothers may have various mental illnesses that you as a man of any age are not trained or equipped to deal with. If your brother has a mental illness, make note of that and include it in your sanctions. For example, if a brother has bipolar disorder, a sanction may include seeing a counselor or school psychiatrist on a regular basis. That is enforceable because it helps the member while not punishing him for things he may or may not be able to control. Other examples of mental illness might be dependency with alcohol or drugs, or depression. For more on these items, please see the Mental Health appendix in the Resources section of this manual.

Don’t be Afraid to Ask for Help!

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Whether it is a problem member, mental health issue, continuing grade problem or financial issue, there are tons of resources that the Standards Board can use to help. Whether it is a BOG advisor, greek advisor, campus health professional or PKT Executive Offices staff member, it is important to ask for help when you need it. Sitting on your hands accomplishes nothing and could make a situation worse. Even if someone doesn’t know the answer, they can help you find someone that will. Please see the list of campus resources on page 11 of this manual for more information.

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On Campus ResourcesBelow is a list and brief description of usual campus resources that the Standards Board can utilize in helping members adhere to our Cardinal Principles and Mission.

Campus Health

Campus health services are usually committed to promoting health, wellness and safety at their institution by providing medical and mental health care as well as providing health education. Your tuition and fees pay for much of their operational costs, so all members should have access to these services. Building a relationship with your campus’ health services provides a number of benefits to your chapter as well as your Standards Board, and this should be a valuable tool to you when dealing with members who have serious dependency or mental health issues. Most campus health services have a counseling service that is also available to students, so it is important that you consider utilizing these services when dealing with these issues with members that fall into this area.

Academic Resources (Writing Labs, Tutors, etc.)

If you have members that have serious issues with grades or have learning disabilities, or even if you have members that simply don’t know how to study or have the skills to succeed in certain classes, your campus probably has a wealth of resources you can refer your members to. While all members may not have the cognitive or learning abilities to get straight A’s, all of your members have the capacity to work hard to overcome their specific issues if they have the proper help. There should be no excuse for consistently underperforming grades if a member is really motivated to get a degree at your institution. As with fraternity, being enrolled at your institution is a CHOICE and not a requirement. It is important that you educate yourself with these resources and consider them when creating sanctions to help your academically underperforming members.

Greek Life Office

Your greek life office is a tremendous resource for directing you to help your members with various issues. The greek life office is usually part of the larger student development umbrella at your school, and can usually refer you to the right people when trying to solve various problems. For example, they may know the contact people for your campus health services or various academic resources, and will usually try to help you create and build those relationships.

Board of Governors

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Your Board of Governors serve as the advisers to your chapter, as well as the accountability arm to the entire chapter. It can help you create and/or enforce sanctions, advise you on how to best to do either, and can serve as another referral resource to the various resources on campus. It is imperative you keep it in the loop on all trials/decisions made as a Standard Board.

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A Culture of Accountability

The Bystander Effect

The term bystander effect refers to the phenomenon in which the greater the number of people present, the less likely people are to help a person in distress. When an emergency situation occurs, observers are more likely to take action if there are few or no other witnesses.

There are two major factors that contribute to the bystander effect. First, the presence of other people creates a diffusion of responsibility. Because there are other observers, individuals do not feel as much pressure to take action, since the responsibility to take action is thought to be shared among all of those present.

The second reason is the need to behave in correct and socially acceptable ways. When other observers fail to react, individuals often take this as a signal that a response is not needed or not appropriate. Other researchers have found that onlookers are less likely to intervene if the situation is ambiguous. In the case of Kitty Genovese, many of the 38 witnesses reported that they believed that they were witnessing a "lover's quarrel," and did not realize that the young woman was actually being murdered.

Source: http://psychology.about.com/od/socialpsychology/a/bystandereffect.htm

The Bystander Effect and Phi Kappa Tau

As chapter leaders, if you do nothing to confront the issues of the chapter and your members, you are creating a culture of “diffusion of responsibility.” When members see that the leadership does nothing, they too will do nothing because they see it as acceptable behavior.

This is why the Standards Board is so vital to the success and health of your chapter. When the Standards Board leads by example and shows the chapter members what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior the members reflect that in their actions. By allowing unacceptable to occur in the chapter, it re-enforces and then solidifies that behavior, creating a number of problems for you as leaders.

Continually re-enforcing the Cardinal Principles and the Oath of membership in your members allows non-leaders to police themselves. You as a member will not be present for every action or decision of your members, but with the knowledge of

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what is unacceptable the chapter members will make their own decisions knowing full well whether they are acting in a manner becoming of a man of Phi Kappa Tau.

As a member of the Standards Board, it is your duty to break that diffusion or responsibility and put it back on your members to make decisions in accordance with their choice to act as men of Phi, Kappa and Tau.

Appendices

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Appendix AStandards Board Referral Form

Date: ___________________

Name of person submitting:

_________________________________________________

Name of person being referred to Standards:

____________________________________

Please explain in detail why you are referring this person to the Standards Board. Also include which policies/commitments/Oaths this person has violated:

Signed:___________________________________ Date: ________________

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Appendix BStandards Board Notification

Letter[Date]

Dear Brother ____________ ,

The purpose of this letter is to inform you that you are being referred to the Standards Board for violating the [list policies/commitments/Oaths] of the [chapter designation] chapter of the Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity.

You are required to appear before the Standards Board on [date and time]. The meeting will be held at [location]. You will be given an opportunity to review the violation, bring forth any witnesses and provide any evidence you may have to defend yourself. The Standards Board will provide their witnesses and evidence, and has the right to ask you any questions they deem relevant to the hearing. Please note that confidentiality in all Standards Board matters is of the utmost importance for all parties involved.

If you are unable to attend, you must provide documentation (i.e. class or work schedule) to the Standards Board chairman at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting date. The meeting will be rescheduled upon receipt of your documentation. In the event that proper notice is not given and/or you do not show up for the meeting, the Standards Board will review the violation and issue an appropriate sanction without your defense.

If you have any questions regarding this process, please contact [name], vice president and Standards Board chairman, at [phone number] or [email address].

In Phi,

[Name]Vice President/Standards Board Chair

Cc: [Name], Chapter Advisor[Name], BOG Chairman

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Appendix CStandards Board Documentation

Form

Date of Standards Meeting: _____________________

Time: _________ Location: __________________

Name of Officer Presiding/Position: ________________________________________________________

Members of Standards Board present: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Name of Member being brought before Standards: _____________________________________________

Violation(s):___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Resolution [i.e responsible/not responsible]

Sanctions:

I agree to the sanctions listed above and understand that if I do not fulfill the commitment, that the appropriate immediate action (i.e. another standards hearing, review of membership etc.) will be taken.

Signature of Member: ________________

Signature of VP/Presiding Officer: ___________________________

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Signature of Advisor: ___________________________________

Appendix DNotice of Decision and Sanctions

Letter[Date]

Dear Brother ____________,

Thank you for meeting with the Standards Board on [date]. We appreciate you taking time to come and speak with us regarding your membership in Phi Kappa Tau.

Enclosed you will find the copy of the Standards Board Documentation Form and minutes from the hearing.

The Standards Board finds you [responsible/not responsible] for violating [list policies/commitments/Oaths]. You have been placed on [Warning, Level 1 Probation, Level 2 Probation, Membership Suspension]. Therefore, you must comply with the following sanctions and/or take the following steps:

List Sanctions and timeframe of sanctions

If any or all of these requirements are not met by [due date], you will be expected to appear before the Standards Board and will be immediately placed on [next level of sanctioning].

If you have any questions regarding this process, please contact [vice president name] at [phone number] or [email address].

In Phi,

[name]Vice President/Standards Board Chair

Cc: [name], BOG Chairman[name], Chapter Advisor

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[name], Chapter President

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Appendix ENotice of Recognition Letter

[Date]

Dear Brother __________,

On [date] the Standards Board received a form referring you to the Standards Board. Brother [insert name] completed the referral form. The purpose of the referral was to recognize you for [insert actions/recognition].

The Standards Board was impressed with your character, bringing honor and credit to our Cardinal Principles, and being a model brother for us all. Thank you for your dedication to the mission of Phi Kappa Tau.

If you have any questions regarding this process, please contact [name] at [phone number] or [email address].

In Phi,

[name]Vice President/Standards Board Chair

Cc: [name], BOG Chairman[name], Chapter Advisor[name], Chapter President

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Resources

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Expulsion ProcessStep 1: Convene Board of Governors or chapter Standards Board to determine probable cause.

If probable cause exists the Board of Governors chairman or Standards Board chairman sends the accused brother a letter (or citation) that outlines the accusation(s) and the tribunal process. A copy of this letter must be forwarded to the Executive Offices at the conclusion of the process.

If no probable cause exists the Board of Governors chairman or Standards Board chairman dismisses the case without prejudice.

Step 2: A tribunal is held with members of the Board of Governors or chapter Standards Board serving as tribunal members.

If the accused brother is found guilty of the accusation(s) the minutes of the tribunal must be forwarded to the Executive Offices at the conclusion of the process.

If the accused brother is found guilty by a chapter Standards Board, the Board of Governors must approve the sentence of the chapter Standards Board.

o If the Board of Governors approves the sentence, the Board of Governors chairman must complete the Sentence Approval Form, which is to be submitted to the Executive Offices.

o If the Board of Governors does not approve the sentence, the Board of Governors chairman dismisses the case without prejudice.

If the accused brother is found not guilty of the accusation(s) the Board of Governors chairman or Standards Board chairman dismisses the case without prejudice.

Step 3: A formal sentence outlining the facts, fraternal law, argument and the verdict must be sent to the accused brother.

A copy of the formal sentence must be forwarded to the Executive Offices at the conclusion of the process.

Step 4: The chief executive officer reviews all documents relating to the expulsion to determine if the expulsion is granted.

If the chief executive officer approves the expulsion the official expulsion letter is mailed to the expelled member and copied to the Domain Director, Board of Governors chairman, chapter president, director of chapter services, coordinator of volunteer development and administrative assistant-chapter services.

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If the chief executive officer does not approve the expulsion the Board of Governors chairman and Standards Board chairman are notified that the accused brother is not expelled from the Fraternity.

o If the Board of Governors wishes to continue with the expulsion process, the process must begin at step one. The Board of Governors must serve as the tribunal for any expulsion hearing that occur after the original hearing.

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Documents required for the expulsion to be approved by the chief executive officer:

1. Accusation Letter 2. Tribunal Minutes3. Board of Governors Sentence Approval*4. Formal Sentence

*The Board of Governors Sentence Approval form is only required when a Chapter Standards Board serves as the tribunal. This form is not required when a Board of Governors serves as the tribunal.

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The Inverted Values Pyramid The root of every chapter’s issues is little to no knowledge of the Ritual and how to live it. When we go through the Ritual, we swear an oath to uphold the standards and ideals of Phi Kappa Tau. When the chapter stops living the Ritual, it produces various levels of problems, creating an endless cycle of issues. The smaller issues

can only be addressed by fixing the root problem—dedication to the Ritual and ideals of Phi Kappa Tau.

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The Root of All Problems

Little Knowledgeand Value

of theRitual

Big Picture Issues

Low/No Standards

Little/No Advisor Involvement

No Accountability

Issues just below the surface

Pledge Education Problems

Brotherhood Based

on Social

Mediocre Recruitment

Surface ProblemsDUES NOT PAID

Alcohol Abuse Apathy Low Campus

Involvement

Academic Issues Empty House

Dirty Chapter House

Mental HealthThis resource is designed to serve as a basic guide for indicators to common mental health issues that college aged males struggle with. This is by no means intended to be a comprehensive document of either illnesses or indicators. Please consult with your campus health services if you have more questions or concerns related to a member.

Dependency (Alcohol or Drugs)

Addiction is a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry. Dysfunction in these circuits leads to characteristic biological, psychological, social and spiritual manifestations. This is reflected in an individual pathologically pursuing reward and/or relief by substance use and other behaviors.

Addiction is characterized by inability to consistently abstain, impairment in behavioral control, craving, diminished recognition of significant problems with one’s behaviors and interpersonal relationships, and a dysfunctional emotional response. Like other chronic diseases, addiction often involves cycles of relapse and remission. Without treatment or engagement in recovery activities, addiction is progressive and can result in disability or premature death.

Warning Signs of Dependency:

Drinking or drug use is causing or exacerbating a persistent or recurring social, work, financial, legal, or health problem. This is the heart of the dependency issue.

Individual has tried unsuccessfully to cut down the extent of alcohol/drug use. Or, once the person starts drinking/using, he sometimes loses control over the amount consumed. Both are indicators of dependence.

Individual commonly drinks while alone. Regular solitary drinking, as compared with social drinking, indicates potential current or future alcohol dependence.

Individual drinks or uses drugs to relax prior to social events, as compared with using alcohol at social events. Drinking/using prior to social events indicates potential current or future problems.

Individual drinks or uses drugs first thing in the morning as an "eye-opener" or to get rid of a hangover. This is a strong indicator of dependence.

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Individual claims a high tolerance for alcohol, for example, makes statements such as: "I can drink a lot without its having any effect on me, so I don't have to worry." High tolerance is an indicator of alcohol dependence -- it takes more and more to have the same effect on the body.

Individual uses alcohol or drugs as a means of coping with life's problems. This indicates possible psychological or emotional problems and greatly increases the likelihood that alcohol already is or will become a problem. On the other hand, if motivation is experimentation, peer pressure, or adolescent rebelliousness, this does not necessarily predict future abuse.

There has been a recent increase in individual's drinking or drug use. A change for the worse in drinking/using pattern may signal the existence of other relevant issues.

There is a family history of alcohol abuse or drug use. Genetic studies indicate that alcoholism tends to run in families and that a genetic vulnerability to alcoholism exists. The disruption of family life in an alcoholic or drug user home also plays a role in creating vulnerability to dependency later in life. On the other hand, many children react to parental addiction by carefully avoiding alcohol or drugs themselves. According to one study, the chances the child will follow in the parent's footsteps depend, in part, upon which parent is the addict and the nature of the relationship with that parent. Children of dependent mothers are at far greater risk than children of dependent fathers.

Sources: http://www.asam.org/for-the-public/definition-of-addiction

http://www.wright.edu/rsp/Security/Eap/Alcohol.htm

Depression

Depression may be described as feeling sad, blue, unhappy, miserable, or down in the dumps. Most of us feel this way at one time or another for short periods.

Clinical depression is a mood disorder in which feelings of sadness, loss, anger, or frustration interfere with everyday life for a longer period of time.

Symptoms of depression include:

Low or irritable mood most of the time A loss of pleasure in usual activities Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much A big change in appetite, often with weight gain or loss Tiredness and lack of energy Feelings of worthlessness, self-hate, and guilt

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Difficulty concentrating Slow or fast movements Lack of activity and avoiding usual activities Feeling hopeless or helpless Repeated thoughts of death or suicide

Low self-esteem is common with depression. It is also common to have sudden bursts of anger and a lack of pleasure from activities that normally make you happy, including sex.

Source: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003213.htm

Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD)

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a chronic condition that affects millions of children and often persists into adulthood. ADHD includes some combination of problems, such as difficulty sustaining attention, hyperactivity and impulsive behavior. Children with ADHD also may struggle with low self-esteem, troubled relationships and poor performance in school.

While treatment won't cure ADHD, it can help a great deal with symptoms. Treatment typically involves medications and behavioral interventions.

A diagnosis of ADHD can be scary, and symptoms can be a challenge for parents and children alike. However, treatment can make a big difference, and most children with ADHD grow up to be normal adults.

Signs and symptoms of inattention may include:

Often fails to pay close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork or other activities

Often has trouble sustaining attention during tasks or play Seems not to listen even when spoken to directly Has difficulty following through on instructions and often fails to finish

schoolwork, chores or other tasks Often has problems organizing tasks or activities Avoids or dislikes tasks that require sustained mental effort, such as

schoolwork or homework Frequently loses needed items, such as books, pencils, toys or tools Can be easily distracted Often forgetful Signs and symptoms of hyperactive and impulsive behavior may include:

o Fidgets or squirms frequentlyo Often leaves his or her seat in the classroom or in other situations when

remaining seated is expected

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o Often runs or climbs excessively when it's not appropriate or, if an adolescent, might constantly feel restless

o Frequently has difficulty playing quietlyo Always seems on the goo Talks excessivelyo Blurts out the answers before questions have been completely askedo Frequently has difficulty waiting for his or her turno Often interrupts or intrudes on others' conversations or games

Normal behavior vs. ADHDMost healthy children are inattentive, hyperactive or impulsive at one time or another. For instance, parents may worry that a 3-year-old who can't listen to a story from beginning to end may have ADHD. But it's normal for preschoolers to have short attention spans and be unable to stick with one activity for long. Even in older children and adolescents, attention span often depends on the level of interest. Most teenagers can listen to music or talk to their friends for hours but may be a lot less focused about homework.

The same is true of hyperactivity. Young children are naturally energetic — they often wear their parents out long before they're tired. And they may become even more active when they're tired, hungry, anxious or in a new environment. In addition, some children just naturally have a higher activity level than do others. Children should never be classified as having ADHD just because they're different from their friends or siblings.

Children who have problems in school but get along well at home or with friends are likely struggling with something other than ADHD. The same is true of children who are hyperactive or inattentive at home, but whose schoolwork and friendships remain unaffected.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/adhd/DS00275

Bi Polar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a condition in which people go back and forth between periods of a very good or irritable mood and depression. The "mood swings" between mania and depression can be very quick.

Bipolar disorder affects men and women equally. It usually starts between ages 15-25. The exact cause is unknown, but it occurs more often in relatives of people with bipolar disorder.

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Types of bipolar disorder:

People with bipolar disorder type I have had at least one manic episode and periods of major depression. In the past, bipolar disorder type I was called manic depression.

People with bipolar disorder type II have never had full mania. Instead they experience periods of high energy levels and impulsiveness that are not as extreme as mania (called hypomania). These periods alternate with episodes of depression.

A mild form of bipolar disorder called cyclothymia involves less severe mood swings. People with this form alternate between hypomania and mild depression. People with bipolar disorder type II or cyclothymia may be wrongly diagnosed as having depression.

In most people with bipolar disorder, there is no clear cause for the manic or depressive episodes. The following may trigger a manic episode in people with bipolar disorder:

Life changes such as childbirth Medications such as antidepressants or steroids Periods of sleeplessness Recreational drug use

Symptoms

The manic phase may last from days to months. It can include the following symptoms:

Easily distracted Little need for sleep Poor judgment Poor temper control Reckless behavior and lack of self control Binge eating, drinking, and/or drug use Poor judgment Sex with many partners (promiscuity) Spending sprees Very elevated mood Excess activity (hyperactivity) Increased energy Racing thoughts Talking a lot Very high self-esteem (false beliefs about self or abilities) Very involved in activities Very upset (agitated or irritated)

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These symptoms of mania occur with bipolar disorder I. In people with bipolar disorder II, the symptoms of mania are similar but less intense.

The depressed phase of both types of bipolar disorder includes the following symptoms:

Daily low mood or sadness Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions Eating problems Loss of appetite and weight loss Overeating and weight gain Fatigue or lack of energy Feeling worthless, hopeless, or guilty Loss of pleasure in activities once enjoyed Loss of self-esteem Thoughts of death and suicide Trouble getting to sleep or sleeping too much Pulling away from friends or activities that were once enjoyed

There is a high risk of suicide with bipolar disorder. Patients may abuse alcohol or other substances, which can make the symptoms and suicide risk worse.

Sometimes the two phases overlap. Manic and depressive symptoms may occur together or quickly one after the other in what is called a mixed state.

Source: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000926.htm

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